The International Skateboarding Federation (ISF) unequivocally supports recognition, integration and support for the Confederação Brasileira de Skate (CBSk) as the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) considers its planning for the debut of skateboarding at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The Confederação Brasileira de Skate (CBSk) has been the backbone for the national development of skateboarding in Brazil for nearly two decades.

Brazil’s position as one of the leading countries in the world for skateboarding talent is undisputed. Birthplace to a huge list of world-class skateboarders including the 2015 Street League Super Crown female and male World Champions, Leticia Bufoni and Kelvin Hoefler; top-level international professionals Luan Oliveira, Pamela Rosa, Felipe Gustavo, Rony Gomes and Pedro Barros; veterans Bob Burnquist, Carlos de Andrade, Lincoln Ueda, Rodrigo Teixeira and Sandro Dias, Brazil’s production of internationally competitive skateboarders is nearly unrivaled. This incredible scene has been supported and developed by the CBSk since 1999 whose membership includes over 500 professional and thousands of amateur skateboarders. Along with many other activities, CBSk supports skateboarding in Brazil by producing dozens of professional and hundreds of amateur contests each year across every competitive discipline of skateboarding including; Street, Park, Bowl, Half-Pipe, Megaramp, Downhill Speed, Downhill Slide, Freestyle, Slalom, Push Race and more. There is no doubt that if the skateboarding community in Brazil is supported properly in the coming years, no one on the planet will be surprised to see Brazilian Skateboarders on the podiums of the Skateboarding Street and Park events in Tokyo 2020.

Under the guidance of the International Olympic Committee, the ISF has partnered with the Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports (FIRS), the IOC recognized International Federation, to form the Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding Commission which has delegated authority in relation to the management, coordination and organization of the Skateboarding competitions at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. This unique arrangement was necessitated by the strength of the skateboarding community that built the sport to world-class athletic levels outside of the traditional models of global-sport. This Brazilian skateboarding community epitomizes the performance and passion which led to the IOC supporting the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee’s recommendation for skateboarding to make its Olympic debut at these Games in the first place.

“We’re witnessing firsthand Skateboarding’s incredible influence and unique ability to change the world,“ said Gary Ream, President, International Skateboarding Federation. “We have no doubt that FIRS will make sure that CBSk is recognized, integrated and supported properly in Brazil’s Olympic governance structures for the good of all skateboarders in Brazil.”

As the COB puts in place the models for Brazilian skateboarding for Tokyo 2020, the ISF supports the full recognition, engagement and support for the existing skateboarding community, represented by the CBSk, that has grown the sport to world-class levels of performance on the field of play and emphasized the fun, creativity, invention, innovation and freedom of expression that make skateboarding such a valuable lifestyle outside of the competitive arena.

While respecting the NOC recognition of FIRS-affiliated National Federations as mandated by the Olympic Charter, the full engagement and support of the existing skateboarding communities in each national territory is key to ensuring the successful integration of Skateboarding into the structure of Olympic Sport.